Counter-pressure filling device and method of counter-pressure filling

ABSTRACT

In a counterpressure filling device (G), for filling bottles (F) with impregnated beverages (B) from a filling connection ( 8 ) which cooperates with closing element (V) and a sealing arrangement ( 11 ) for the bottle mouth ( 2 ) to the closing element (V), is a full-stream cone ( 12 ) for creating a full stream (ST) of the impregnated beverage which is directed through the bottleneck ( 1 ) down to the bottom ( 3 ) of the bottle without coming in contact with the same, the cross section of said full stream corresponding to a predetermined amount of the inside cross section of the bottleneck and bordering together with the bottleneck a return gas path (W) and a fluid channel ( 17 ) at least for return gas (E) opens outside the filling connection and inside the sealing arrangement. During filling, a free full stream (ST) is formed from the impregnated beverage and is directed through the bottleneck ( 1 ) down to the bottom ( 3 ) of the bottle without coming in contact with the same, while the return gas (E) is also removed outside of the filling connection ( 8 ) besides being removed between the full stream and the bottleneck.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is the U.S. national stage under 35 U.S.C. § 371, of international application no. PCT/EP2004/008919, having an international filing date of Aug. 10, 2004, and claims priority to German application no. 103 37 663.1 filed on Aug. 16, 2003.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention relates to a counterpressure filling device and a method for counterpressure filling.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A filling device known from German Patent DE 4 312 367 A can be switched between a filling mode under atmospheric pressure (for non-carbonated beverages) and a counterpressure filling mode (for impregnated beverages, i.e., containing CO2). For filling under atmospheric pressure, either an elongated tube is inserted into the filling connection and then guided through the mouth of the bottle, which is not sealed during filling, until it is near the bottom of the bottle, or the process works with a full-stream cone as the closing element, so that unsealed beverage containers are filled with a free full stream. The cone is adjusted by an actuator between a filling position and a closed position. For counterpressure filling, the mouth of the bottle is sealed in a centering bell while at the same time a short hollow tube that extends the closing cone is inserted to just beneath the neck of the bottle. The impregnated beverage is fed into the bottle along the short tube on the outside in a stream having a circular cross section and on the inside along the neck of the bottle, where the short tube carries a cone at one end for guiding the beverage toward the wall of the bottle. Before the start of filling, the bottle is optionally rinsed and a pressure above atmospheric pressure is created until the closing element is finally opened and the stream begins to flow. Filling ends as soon as the beverage volume, which is defined by a metering chamber, has entered the bottle and the closing cone has been closed. The return gas from the bottle, which is under a counterpressure, is removed through the short tube.

The counterpressure mode manifests the teaching which has previously been practiced consistently in filling bottling impregnated beverages, namely, among other things, that because of their tendency to foam and/or bubble, impregnated beverages are guided under excess pressure along a flow guide that is inserted into the bottle and guides the return gas out of the bottle at the core of the hollow stream, so to speak. However, filling with a free full stream and without a stream guidance element inserted into the bottle has not previously been considered feasible with impregnated beverages. In the case of the filling connection known from European Patent 0 559 513 A, a directed full stream of a non-impregnated beverage is generated by the cooperating conical surfaces in the filling connection and on the closing element. In the case of a full-stream filling device for non-impregnated beverages known from WO 00/58198, no sealing devices are provided beneath the outlet of the filling connection. A fluid channel leading to the outside of the mouth of the filling connection serves to clean the filling device.

In the past, in filling bottles with impregnated beverages, it has always been assumed that a free full stream would be completely unsuitable for these types of beverages although the full stream permits a high filling rate, which is highly desirable. One reason for this prejudice is the tendency of impregnated beverages to bubble and foam and the problem of removing the return gas thereby displaced or released.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The object of the present disclosure is to provide a counterpressure filling device of the type defined in the preamble and the method for counterpressure filling of bottles with impregnated beverages in which a high filling rate can be achieved with little complexity in terms of the equipment required.

Since the full-stream cone together with the filling connection forms a full stream of the impregnated beverage, which is directed through the neck of the bottle down to the bottom of the bottle without coming in contact with it, a very high filling rate is achieved even with impregnated beverages with little complexity in terms of equipment. The sealing arrangement ensures the seal required to pressurize the interior of the bottle for the filling operation, whereby a pressurizing pressure, i.e., back pressure of approximately 3 to 4 bar, for example, is generated. Since the free full stream passes through the neck of the bottle without coming in contact with it and is directed at the bottom of the bottle, the return gas can pass by the full stream to the fluid channel with no problem, while the fluid channel allows the return gas to flow back outside of the filling connection in a process that is controlled by pressure without interfering with the flow of the full stream. Since the full stream strikes the bottom of the bottle directly and is distributed uniformly there, the filling operation proceeds very harmoniously against the pressure cushion of the pressurized gas above it. The filling operation is expediently terminated by a volumetric measurement device or a flow rate metering device as soon as the desired filling level has been reached or a desired filling volume has been bottled.

According to this process, the free full stream is allowed to run through the neck of the bottle to the bottom of the bottle without coming in contact with it, the return gas being removed in a controlled manner primarily on the outside along with the full stream without interfering with the largely laminar full stream. There is no mentionable foaming effect because the impregnated beverage is under the pressurizing pressure along its flow path from the filling connection to the bottom of the bottle, and this pressure is not dissipated until after the end of the filling operation. In this way, an extremely high filling rate can be achieved even with highly carbonated beverages.

It is self-evident that the counterpressure filling device can of course also be used at any time without any mentionable conversion measures for bottling non-impregnated beverages with a full stream in unsealed bottles. This is also an important advantage of the inventive counterpressure filling device because time-consuming and labor-intensive conversion measures are largely eliminated when bottling a non-impregnated beverage instead of an impregnated beverage and vice versa.

The cross section of the full stream should be between 35% and 70%, preferably approximately 45% to 50% of the inside cross section of the bottleneck. This makes it possible to reliably rule out any contact with the inside wall of the bottleneck which would have an interfering effect on the stream on the one hand while on the other hand keeping a sufficiently large cross section free for removal of the return gas. Although the full stream may expediently also be round in the case of a round bottleneck, this does not rule out selecting a different cross-sectional shape for the full stream.

The sealing arrangement is expediently arranged in a centering bell for the mouth of the bottle which is concentric with the filling connection. The centering bell ensures that the neck and the mouth of the bottle are accurately aligned with the outlet of the filling connection and the full stream does not come in contact with the inside wall of the bottleneck.

A sealing element on the full-stream cone establishes a reliable hermetic seal in the closed position, e.g., it may be an O-ring.

In terms of assembly technique, the centering bell advantageously has a holding ring for the sealing arrangement which is detachably mounted on the housing. For example, if a machine conversion is necessary for bottling a non-impregnated beverage, then the holding ring and/or the centering bell may be rapidly and conveniently removed with the sealing arrangement.

In terms of assembly technique, the ring gasket is also advantageously clamped between the holding ring and the supporting ring which has a larger passage than the outlet opening of the filling connection so that it does not interfere with the full stream. Furthermore, the supporting ring may be utilized to border a ring chamber around the mouth of the filling connection, communicating with the fluid channel to remove the return gas with no problem.

To achieve a satisfactory seal, it is advisable to also provide a gasket between the supporting ring and the housing.

The fluid channel leads to a pressure control system with at least one control valve. This control valve accurately controls the counterpressure in the bottle.

The full-stream cone is coupled to a linear actuator inside a filling chamber via a shaft, the linear actuator at least holding the closed position and optionally being used to terminate the filling operation or to start the filling operation if the counterpressure control unit is not to be used for this purpose. If necessary, the full-stream cone is acted upon by a closing spring in the closing direction.

In the case of the full-stream cone, pressurization surfaces may be provided and coordinated with one another, so that at least the start of the filling operation can be controlled accurately by the pressure control.

In performing the filling operation it is important for the free full stream to be directed at least approximately coaxially with the bottleneck axis so that it maintains essentially the same distance from the inside wall of the bottleneck toward all sides and is also distributed uniformly and centrally to all sides at the bottom of the bottle.

According to this process, the full stream should also be formed with a cross section amounting to approximately 35% to 70% of the inside cross section of the bottleneck, preferably approximately 45% to 50%.

In order to produce a clean laminar flow in the full stream and as little edge separation as possible, the full stream is formed by means of at least one conical section in the filling connection and by the full-stream cone in its filling position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the object of the present disclosure is explained below with reference to the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a counterpressure filling device before a filling operation for a non-carbonated beverage,

FIG. 2 shows the counterpressure filling device according to FIG. 1 during a filling operation,

FIG. 3 shows the filling device according to FIG. 1 before a filling operation for a non-impregnated beverage in a first embodiment,

FIG. 4 shows the filling device according to FIG. 1 during a filling operation for a non-impregnated beverage in a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

A counterpressure filling device G indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, where it is shown partially in sectional view, is prepared for a counterpressure filling mode to fill bottles F with a metered amount of an impregnated beverage B which is kept under pressure in a container 27. An impregnated beverage here is understood to refer to a beverage combined with CO2, O2, N2 or a similar gas or gas mixture, typically beer.

However, the counterpressure filling device G can be converted rapidly and easily to bottling non-impregnated beverages such as non-carbonated mineral water, milk or the like without a counterpressure.

Each bottle F to be filled has a bottleneck 1 with a bottle mouth 2. At the top, in the form of a circular bottle mouth here and a bottle bottom 3 which is cambered, e.g., at the center. The inside diameter D of the bottleneck 1 and the bottle mouth 2 is 21 mm, for example.

For filling, the bottle F is gripped by a holding and pressing device 4, e.g., at the bottleneck 1 beneath a carrying ring and is raised from a position beneath a housing 5 as shown in FIG. 1.

Housing 5 has a filling chamber 6 in which a closing element V is arranged so it is movable in height. The filling chamber 6 has at least one lower conical section 7 which is transferred to the actual filling connection 8 opening at the bottom of the housing 5. A centering bell is arranged concentrically with the mouth of the filling connection 8 and detachably on the bottom side of the housing 5. The centering bell consists of a supporting ring 9, which is in contact with the housing 5 and is optionally sealed against the housing and borders a ring chamber K around the mouth of the filling connection 8, and of a holding ring 10, which stretches a sealing arrangement 11 against the supporting ring 9 by using detachable fastening elements, e.g., screws. The sealing arrangement 11 may be, for example, a profiled sealing ring made of an elastomer material with an inside opening larger than the mouth of the filling connection. The supporting ring 9 has a through opening which is larger than the mouth of the filling connection 8.

The closing element V is designed as a full-stream cone 12 which cooperates with the conical section 7 and has a gasket 16, e.g., an O-ring, on the periphery. The full-stream cone 12 is connected by a shaft 13 to a linear actuator 14 and may optionally be acted upon by an opening spring. A feed channel leads from the filling chamber 6 to the pressure container 27. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the filling channel 15 passes through a volumetric measurement device M through which the linear actuator 14 is triggered to close, for example, as soon as the predetermined metered amount has been bottled. A fluid channel 17 runs in the housing 5 to the ring chamber K, the mouth of the fluid channel 17 in the ring chamber K being placed outside of the mouth of the filling connection 8. The fluid channel 17 leads to a control unit S having at least one control valve 18 through 22. The control system is also connected to a purge gas channel, a pressure release channel or a return gas channel 23 and to a separate pressurizing channel 24.

The control valve 18 serves to adjust a rapid single-chamber filling mode and alternatively also as a pressurizing valve via the fluid channel 17 into the bottle F, which is brought into sealing contact with the sealing arrangement 11 by the pressure device 4 in FIG. 2. The control valve 19 serves to adjust a slow single-chamber filling mode and alternatively also functions as a pressurizing valve. The control valve 20 is a purge gas valve, a pressure release valve or a clean gas valve. The control valve 21 serves to adjust a rapid multi-chamber filling mode and finally the control valve 22 serves to adjust a slow multi-chamber filling mode.

FIG. 2 shows the bottle F with the impregnated beverage B being bottled under counterpressure from pressure container 27 through filling line 15 and filling chamber 6. During filling, the raised full-stream cone 12 with the conical section 7 generates a straight and free full stream which emerges from the mouth of the filling connection 8 coaxially with the axis of the bottle and passes through the centering bell and the bottle mouth 2 and the bottleneck 1 without coming in contact with them and is aimed directly at the bottle bottom 3. The free full stream ST has an outside diameter d which amounts to approximately 14 mm and 15 mm in comparison with the inside diameter D of the bottleneck 1 of approximately 21 mm, for example. This means that the cross section of the full stream ST, which is round here, is between approximately 35% and 70%, preferably between approximately 45% and 50% of the inside cross section of the bottleneck 1 and the bottle mouth 2. Between the full stream ST and the inside wall of the bottleneck 1, a flow path W for return gas E is kept free, said gas entering the ring chamber K and then flowing out through the fluid passage 17 through the opened control valves 21, 22 and into the purge gas channel, pressure release channel or return gas channel 23, during which time a counterpressure of 3 to 4 bar, for example, is maintained in the bottle F. The filling operation is terminated when the linear actuator 14 is operated and the full-stream cone 12 is adjusted into the closed position.

The filling operation is initiated by building up a counterpressure of 3 to 4 bar in the bottle F after pressing the bottle mouth 2 against the sealing arrangement 11 via fluid channel 17 by opening the pressurizing valve 18, 19 from pressurizing channel 24. The closing element V has a closing pressurizing surface which is acted upon by the filling pressure of the beverage B and has an opening pressurizing surface which is acted upon by the pressurizing pressure in the ring chamber K. The opening pressurizing surface is larger than the closing pressurizing surface, e.g., because of the shaft 13. As soon as the pressurizing pressure overcomes the closing pressure, the full-stream cone 12 is lifted and the full stream begins to flow. Before a filling operation, if necessary, the bottle may be purged through the fluid channel 17, as well as pressure release optionally taking place by opening the valve 20 after conclusion of the filling operation. Furthermore, the fluid passage 17 may be used for cleaning the counterpressure filling device, in which case then instead of the holding ring 10, a cover cap is provided. In addition, instead of the automatic opening through the pressurizing surfaces on the full-stream cone there may be forced opening due to the linear actuator after a period of time sufficient for pressurization has elapsed.

If the counterpressure filling device G according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is to be switched to bottling non-impregnated beverages, one need only remove the centering bell, i.e., the holding ring 10 with the supporting ring 9 and the sealing arrangement 11. Furthermore, in addition to or instead of that, it is also possible to switch to a different lift path or to a different end position, because then no sealing contact with the bottle mouth 2 is necessary for bottling using the full stream ST. If desired, however, a non-impregnated beverage may also be bottled with sealing contact and counterpressure without making the changes.

FIG. 3 shows how the bottling device G according to FIG. 1 is switched to bottling a non-impregnated beverage. To do so, the upper end position of the holding and pressing device 4 is adjusted so that in its filling position, the bottle mouth 2 stands beneath the holding ring 10 of the centering bell at a short distance of approximately 5 mm, for example. This height position is indicated by the dash-dot line 25. This is achieved, for example, by snapping a slotted elastic spacer sleeve 26 onto the piston rod of the lift cylinder 28. The spacer sleeve 26 acts as a stop for the pneumatically raised lift cylinder 28, after which it is released by the lowering curve 29 which acts only in the inlet and outlet areas of the filling machine.

The bottle mouth 2 thus had no contact with the sealing arrangement 11 during the actual filling operation but instead communicates with the atmosphere. The air displaced when the full stream ST enters into the bottle 3 therefore escapes directly into the environment.

With the adjustment of the filling device G as described here, the bottle mouth 2 does not at any time enter the centering bell, so that lifting of the bottles F may also be omitted entirely. One need only ensure that the lower end position of the lift cylinder 28 is designed structurally with the holding and pressing device 4 so that the bottle mouth 2 assumes the level 25 when the lift cylinder 28 has been completely vented. In this case, merely a final ventilation of all hollow cylinders 28 is necessary in the case of a switch in the filling device G from counterpressure filling atmospheric filling.

FIG. 4 shows another possibility of how the filling device G according to FIG. 1 can be switched to bottling a non-impregnated beverage. The centering bell here which consists of the supporting ring 9, the holding ring 10 and the sealing arrangement 11 has been removed completely after releasing the fastening screws or a suitable fast closure so that the filling connection 8 is exposed. The upper end position of the lift cylinder 28 with the holding device 4 is secured in such a way that when in the filling position, the bottle mouth 2 is a few millimeters of distance away from the bottom side of the housing 5. This may be accomplished, for example, by inserting appropriate spacer sleeves 26 or by an appropriate structural design of the upper end position of the lift cylinder 8. One need only recall here that when the centering bells are inserted, the lift is sufficient to press the mouth of the bottle 2 against the sealing arrangement 11 with a sufficient pressure. Even in this case, a rapid and simple conversion by removing and/or inserting the centering bells is thus possible. 

1. Counterpressure filling device (G) for filling bottles (F) with impregnated beverages (B) a comprising a filling connection (8) which cooperates with an adjustable closing element (V), sealing arrangement (11) between the filling connection (8) and the bottle F which can be brought into sealing contact with its bottle mouth (2) by a pressure device (4) at least during pressurizing and filling, the closing element (V) being a full-stream cone (12) positioned in any position above the bottle mouth (2), creating a full stream (ST) of the impregnated beverage (B) which, when in the filling position with the filling connection (8), is directed through the bottleneck (1) down to the bottom (3) of the bottle without coming in contact with the bottle, the cross section of this full stream of beverage corresponding to a predetermined amount of the internal cross section of the bottleneck (2) and bordering a return gas path (W) in the bottleneck (2), and a fluid channel (17) at least for return gas (E) opens outside of the filling connection (8) and inside of the sealing arrangement (11).
 2. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 1, wherein the cross section of the full stream (ST) corresponds to between 35% and 70% of the inside cross section of the bottleneck (2).
 3. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing arrangement (11) is arranged in a centering bell for the bottle mouth (2), the centering bell being concentric with the filling connection (8).
 4. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 1, wherein the full-stream cone (12) has a closing sealing element (16), for cooperating with a conical section (7) of the filling connection (8).
 5. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 3, wherein the centering bell has a holding ring (10) for the sealing arrangement (11) designed as a ring gasket, the holding ring being detachably attached to a housing (5) containing the filling connection (8).
 6. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 5, wherein the ring gasket is clamped between the holding ring (10) and a supporting ring (9), and the supporting ring (9) has a passage larger than the outlet opening of the filling connection (8) and together with the housing (5) borders a ring chamber (K) in which at least one mouth of the fluid channel (17) is arranged.
 7. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 6, wherein a gasket is provided between the supporting ring (9) and the housing (5).
 8. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid channel (17) leads to a control system(s) having at least one control valve (18 through 22).
 9. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 1, wherein the full-stream cone (12) is connected to a linear actuator (14) via a shaft (13) inside a filling chamber (6) and is acted upon by a spring.
 10. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 1, wherein the full-stream cone (12) with its shaft (13) in the filling chamber (6) has a closing pressure surface which is acted upon by the pressure of the impregnated beverage (B) in the closing direction, and the ring chamber (K) has an opening pressure surface that can be acted upon by a control pressure, correlated with the full-stream cone (12).
 11. Method for counterpressure filling of bottles (F) with impregnated beverages (B), comprising bringing a bottle (F) with its bottleneck mouth (2) into sealing contact with a filling connection (8) and holding there, forming a free full stream (ST) of the impregnated beverage (B), directing the full stream through the bottleneck (1) to the bottom (3) of the bottle without coming in contact therewith, and removing the return gas (E) to the outside between the full stream (ST) and the bottleneck (1) and outside of the filling connection (8).
 12. Method according to claim 11, and aligning the free full stream (ST) at least approximately coaxially with the axis of the bottleneck.
 13. Method according to claim 11, and forming the full stream (ST) with a cross section amounting to approximately 35% to approximately 70% of the free inside cross section of the bottleneck.
 14. Method according to claim 11, forming the full stream (ST) by means of a full-stream cone (12) which cooperates with a conical section (7) of the filling connection (8), and adjusting the full-stream cone (12) in a controlled manner between the open position and the closed position in relation to the conical section (7).
 15. Filling device (G) for filling bottles (F) with beverages, comprising a filling connection (8) which cooperates with an adjustable closing element (V), the closing element (V) being a full-stream cone (12) positioned in any position above the bottle mouth (2), creating, when the filling connection (8) is in the filling position, a full stream (ST) of the beverage which is directed through the bottleneck (1) to the bottom (3) of the bottle without coming in contact with the bottle, the cross section of said full stream being smaller than the inside cross section of the bottleneck, a fluid channel (17) for return gas (E) which opens outside of the mouth of the filling connection (8), and the filling device (G) being adjustable between counterpressure bottling in which the bottle mouth (2) can be brought into contact with a sealing arrangement (11) that surrounds the filling connection (8) and the fluid channel (17) and an atmospheric pressure bottling in which the bottle mouth (3) has no contact with the sealing arrangement (11).
 16. Filling device according to claim 15, wherein the switching is performed by removing and attaching the sealing arrangement (11) and/or adjusting the lift of a holding device (4) for the bottles (F).
 17. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 2, wherein the cross section of the full stream (ST) corresponds to between 45% and 50% of the inside cross section of the bottleneck (2).
 18. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 2, wherein the full stream (ST) has a round cross section and is directed at least approximately coaxially with the axis of the bottleneck.
 19. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 4, wherein the closing sealing element is an O-ring.
 20. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 6, wherein the ring gasket is separated from the holding ring (10).
 21. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 9, wherein the spring has adjustable pressurization.
 22. Counterpressure filling device according to claim 10, wherein the opening pressure surface is larger than the closing pressure surface.
 24. Method according to claim 13, wherein the formed cross section amounts to approximately 45% to approximately 50% of the free inside cross section of the bottleneck.
 24. Method according to claim 13, and forming the cross section of the full stream (ST) to have a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the bottleneck and the bottle mouth (2). 